Oil and gas well protective



Jan. 4, 1938.

A. B. LONG ET AL 2,104,660

OIL AND GAS WELL PROTECTIVE DVICE Filed May 10, 1937 WITNESS ATTORNEYS 3Shevets-Sheet 1 x Jan. 4, 193s. A, B. LONG |-.-r AL 2,104,660

OIL AND GAS WELL PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed May 10, 193'? 3 -Sheets-Sheet'Z@-mggm 4, @i Z NToRs Jan. 4, A. LONG l' L OIL AND GAS WELL PROTECTIVEDEVICE l Filed May l0, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 79 WIND VELOCITY SWITCH@KLOAT CONTROLLED U SWITCH m @Wa/22 WITNESS l ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 4,E93

@Hi GAS WELL PROTECTIVE Alfred E. Mug and Louis E. Stagg, 31'.,

mont, 'Een rI'his invention relates to an oil and gas well protectivedevice. f

An object of this invention is to provide a protective device for highpressure oil and gas wells located in areas that are subject to severestorms or ood conditions or both.

Deep wells have a potential of from 10,000 to 20,000 barrels per day anda gas pressure of from 500 to 3,000 pounds. To bring a well undercontrol after it once has gotten loose is a very diiilcult and dangerousundertaking and also requires time. It is therefore evident that muchloss and damage can take place in even the short period oi a few hours.Also in such event the oil well reservoir gas pressure would be greatlyreduced and cause other wells in the immediate vicinity to stop flowing.The ultimate recoverable potential of the iield wouldA therefore begreatly reduced. The present invention is designed to prevent the oilwell Christmas-tree from being damaged and also to automatically cut oithe ow of gas and oil as a further precaution under dangerous wind andwater conditions.

To achieve the above ends theinvention comprises means for closing themaster valve and stopping the flow of oil or gas from the well beforethere is a possibility of loss due to wind or Water damage. After themaster valve has been closed it must be re-adjusted manually thereforemaking it possible to locate and repair such damage as may occur toconnecting lines or other equipment before the well is allowed to iiowagain. f

A further object is to provide a covering or shelter as a unitaryassembly with the valve closing mechanism. With the use of a shelteralone damage could occur to connecting pipe lines and other equipmentlocated out in the eld, resulting in loss of oil and gas. In the eventof high water conditions it might be impossible to reach and enter theprotective covering to close the master valve manually. Were the valveclosing mechanism installed alone and unsheltered it might be possiblefor damage to occur to the Christmas-tree and connecting pipe lines andequipment located near to and in connection with the well due to thewashing action of high water which tends to destroy supports andfootings, and due to high winds and waves which carry loose timbers andother debris along at dangerous velocity.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter fully described and claimed. it being understood thatvarious modications may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming pa of this specification,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view, with parts in elevation, ofan oil and gas well protective device, constructed in accordance withthe invention and showing a pressure operated piston and lever forclosing the master valve of the oil well Christmas-tree, the closing oithe valve being timed by a wind turbine and/or float valve.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a pressure operatedmotor in lieu of the piston and lever for closing the master valve.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one type of protective covering for thewell Christmas-tree.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing an electric motor for closingthe master valve and showing the wiring, controlling switches and timingwind turbine and float diagrammatically.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts in the various views, and more especially toFigure 3, I designates in general a protective covering of such shapeand size as to-oifer the least resistance ,to wind and wave action. Aconical covering is preferable although other shapes may be utilized ifdesired.

The protective covering may be formed of sheet metal or other materialand may be constructed to set upon the surface of the ground with thecover extending= into the ground or may be provided with a .cellar wallIl sunk below the surface of the ground, as shown at I2. In either caseit is anchored by piling I3 or other means depending upon the nature ofthe soil. The protective covering is built over the Christmastreeconnections of the well, designated in general by the numeral ld, so asto amply protect all well outlet connections from damage due to wind andwater, and is provided with a door l5 through which access may be had tothe Christmas-tree. The Christmas-tree is equipped with the usualmanually operated master shut oif valve i6.

In carrying out the invention the Christmastree is also provided with anautomatic u@ ster shut oi valve l'l which may be of the plug type asillustrated in Figure 1 and closed by straight line movement, or may beof the feed'screw type closed by turning movement as shown in Figures 2and 3.

The automatic master valve may be closed by pressure from the Well andfor this purpose, as shown in Figure 1, the pipe I8 maybe connected atone end to the Christmas-tree above the manually operated shut o valveI6 and at the other end may be connected to one end of a cylinder I9 inwhich the well pressure may be directed against a piston 20 to move thepiston toward the opposite end of the cylinder. A valved pipe 2l isconnected to the pipe I8 and connected to an outside source of pressureto admit pressure through a pipe equipped with a reversing valve 22 intothe opposite end of the cylinder to reverse movement of the piston forresetting the piston after each operation. The cylinder may be mountedon the Christmastree by a clamp 23 having ears 24 which are bolted to alug 25 on the cylinder head.

The stem 26 of the automatic master valve I1 is elongated and isterminally pivoted as shown at 21 to one end of a rock lever 28, theopposite end of which is terminally pivoted as shown at 29 to the rod'of the piston. A bracket arm 36 is clamped to the Christmas-tree bymeans of a split ring clamp 3|, or other connection, and is terminallypivoted to the rock lever 28 as shown at 32 to mount the rock lever.

When pressure is admitted to the cylinder through the pipe I8 the rocklever will move the valve stem 26 in a rectilinear direction and closethe valve. For maintaining the valve closed a spring finger 33extendsforwardly from the automatic valve along the valve stem and isequipped with a hook 34 which rides over and engags a stop collar 35 onthe valve stem so thatl the stem cannot be moved outward toopen thevalve until pressure from an outside source is admitted to the pistoncylinder by opening the reversing valve 22 thus giving plenty of time torepair such damage as may occur to connecting lines or other equipment4due to Wind or Weather before the well is allowed to ow again.

A shut off valve 36 is located in the pipe I8 at a point preferablyadjacent the master valve stem 26. A cable 31 connects the master valvestem with an operating lever 38 which is pivoted on a bracket arm 39carried by the shut off valve. The valve stem 40 is connected -to thelever. When the master valve is being closed the cable 31 will be pulledand move the lever 38 to close the shut ofi' valve just as the mastervalve "becomes completely closed so that well pressure will be shut oiffrom the cylinder I9.

Well pressure is let into the cylinder through the pipe I8 upon eitherdangerousl wind pressure or high water. The timing apparatus operated bythe wind comprises a wind driven turbine 4I, or other wind actuateddevice, mounted on top of or in connection with the protective coveringI0. The shaft 42 of the wind turbine is equipped with a fly ballgovernor 43, the sliding sleeve 44 of which engages a pin 45 on theshaft. The sleeve is formed integral with a clutch shaft 46 thatterminates in a clutch disc 41 which, at dangerous wind velocity whenthe balls 43 fly outwardly, move up and engages a clutch casing 48 torotate the casing.

The casing 48 is pinned to a shaft 49 which is connected to the stem 50of a starting valve 5I by means of a shear pin 52. When the clutch parts41 and 48 are engaged the valve stem 59 will be rotated by the windturbine to turn the valve stem 50 and open the valve. When the v valveis completely opened the shear pin 52 will break so that the valve willnot be damaged when the turbine is turning at high speed.

A suitable casing 53 houses the fly ball governor and the clutch andthis casing may be secured to the pipe I8 `by a bracket arm 54 or may beotherwise attached to the protective covering I0.

In operation when the wind reaches dangerous velocity the fly ballgovernor will engage the clutch parts 41 and 48 to open the startingvalve 5I and admit pressure from the Christmastree through the pipe I8into the end of the cylinder I9 and against the piston '20. Movement ofthe piston under inuence of well pressure will rock the rock lever 28and move the automatic master shut off valve stem 26 to close the valve.The hook 33 hooks over the stop 35 when the valve is completely closedand prevents the valve being opened until the reversing valve 22 ismanually opened to admit pressure from an outside source against thepiston in the cylinder to move the piston to its initial startingposition.

Well pressure may be admitted to the pipe I8 to close the masterautomatic shut off valve upon a dangerous rise in water level. For thispurpose i a by-pass pipe 55 is connected to the pipe I8 to by-pass wellpressure from the Christmas-tree" I4 to the piston cylinder I9 aroundthe starting valve 5I. A starting valve 56 is located in the by-passpipe 55 and the stem 51 of the valve is actuated by a float 58 and lever59 which latter is pivoted to a bracket arm 60 that is mounted on thepipe 55. Dangerous high water level will lift the float and open thefloat controlled starting valve 56 to admit well pressure through thepipe I8 to the piston cylinder I9.

In Figure 2 the parts described in connection with the description ofFigure 1 are duplicated and hence have been given similar referencenumerals, with the exception that in lieu of the pressure operatedpiston and lever mechanism for closing the master shut off valve I1, aconventional pressure operated motor 6I is employed. The shaft v62 ofthe motor is connected by a toothed slip clutch 63 to a stub shaft 64which is connected to the stem 65 of the master shut oi valve I1 by achain drive 66. When pressure is let into the pipe I8 by operationeither of the wind turbine controlled starting-valve 5I, or the floatcontrolled starting valve 56, the motor will be started and through thechain drive will rotate the valve stem 65 to close the master shut offvalve. When the valve is completely closed the clutch 63 slips after thepressure has been shut off from the motor, as will be presentlydescribed, to keep the momentum of the motor from damaging the mastershut oil. valve by the sudden tightening of the valve when the samecloses completely.

Of course, the chain drive 66 will move toward the master shut off valveI1, by virtue of the lower chain drive pulley being splined on the stubshaft v 64 when the valve is closing and this movement is utilized toclose the shut oi valve 36 hitherto described and shut off the wellpressure from the motor. For this purpose a cable 61 is connected to thepivoted operating lever 68 of the shut off valve 36 andis connected tothe stem 65 of the master shut off valveby a universal joint 69. Endwiseshifting movement of the master valve stem 65 during closing of thevalve pulls the cable 61 to close the shut off valve 36 at the miomentthe master shut off valve is completely closed and shut olf the wellpressure from the motor 6I.

In Figure 4 the automatic shut off valve of the aioaeeo Christmas-treeis illustrated as being closed by an electric motor 'lil rather thanthrough Well pressure. The shaft ll of the motor is connected by a slipclutch 'l2 to a stub shaft 'i3 which latter is connected to the stem lliof the master shut oi valve by a chain drive l similar to the chaindrive hitherto described.

The energizing current from the motor may be furnished by a generator'iS of any preferred type and driven from any preferred source of power.A wind actuated device ll, preferably of a type similar to the Windturbine hitherto described, is illustrated diagrammatically as having apull rod i8 connected with a swinging c ontact- 'i9 of a wind pressureoperated switch which controls the motor circuit comprising wires 88,8i, 82, 83 and 88. When the wind reaches dangerous velocity the motorcircuit will be automatically closed by the operation of the fly ballgovernor on the wind turbine il to start the motor which actuates thechain drive 'l5 to turn the valve stem 'M and close the master shut oiivalve il. A cable 853 is connected to the movable switch contact 85 of acut o switch 86 in the motor circuit and is connected to the valve stem113. When the valve stem is moved inward to close lthe valve the cablewill pull open the movable switch contact 85 and open the circuit tostop the motor. Slipping of the clutch 'l2 prevents breakage. of theparts of the master valve due to momentum. of the motor after the motorenergizing circuit is opened.

A oat controlled switch 8'! is located in shunt circuit with the motorcircuit heretofore 'described, the shunt circuit wires being designatedlby the numerals 88 and 89. Upon dangerous increase in water level thefloat controlled switch will be closed by raising of the float 90 toclose the shunt circuit from the generator to the motor and start themotor to close the master shut oi valve as described.

\ From the above description it is thought that the construction andoperation of the invention will be fully understood without furtherexplanation.

What is claimed is:

1. An oil and gas well protective device comprising the combination withthe well Christmastree having a shut off valve, of means for housing theChristmas-tree, and means for automatically shutting 01T the valve upona predetermined wind velocity or rise in wat-er level.

2. An oil and gas well protective device comprising the combination withthe Well Christmastree having a shut oi Valve, of means forautomatically shutting oi the valve upon predetermined wind velocity,means for automatically shutting oi the valve upon a predetermined risein water level, means for holding the valve closed, and a covering forprotecting the Christmastree and all of said means from injury. l

l3. An oil and gas well protective device comprising the combinationwith the well Christmastree" havinga shut on valve, of a protectivecovering to house the Christmas-tree, a pressure cylindex', a piston inthe cylinder connected to the shut oi valve, xa pipe for conducting Wellpressure to one end of the cylinder against the piston to shut oir thevalve and means for admitting pressure through the pipe into thecylinder upon a dangerous rise of wind and water conditions.

4. An oil and gas well protective device comprising the combination withthe well Christmastree having a shut oi valve, of a protective coveringfor the Christmas-tree, means for utilizing Well pressure to close thevalve, a wind actuated device connected to said means for actuating saidmeans upon a dangerous rise in wind velocity, and a oat controlled meansconnected to the rst named means for actuating the first named meansupon a dangerous rise in water level.

5. An oil and gas well protective device comprising the combination withthe well Christmastree having a shut oi valve, of a protective coveringfor the Christmas-tree, a pressure operated motor connected to the shutoff valve for shutting oiT the valve, a pipe connected to theChristmastree and to the motor for utilizing well pressure to actuatethe motor, Wind actuated means for admitting pressure to the pipe upon adangerous rise in-wind velocity, and float operated means for admittingpressure tothe .pipe upon a dangerous rise in water level.

6. An oil and gas well protective device comprising the combination withthe well Christmastree having a shut 01T valve, of a protective coveringfor the Christmas-tree, an electric motor connected to the valve forclosing the valve, a circuit for the motor, a source of electricity forsupplying current to the motor, a wind operated switch for closing themotor circuit upon a dangerous rise in wind velocity and a floatoperated switch in the circuit for closing the circuit upon a dangerousrise in water level.

'7. An oil and gas well protective device com.`

prising the combination with the well Christmastree having a shut 01TValve, of means for housing the Christmas-tree, and wind operated.

means connected with the valve for automatically shutting oi the Valveupon a dangerous rise in wind velocity.

8. An oil and gas well protective device comprising the combination withthe well Christmastree having a shut off valve, of means for housing theChristmas-tree, and oat operated means cnnected with the valve forshutting oil the valve upon a dangerous rise in Water level.

9. An oil and gas Well protective device comprising the combination withthe well Christmastree having a shut off valve, of means for housing theChristmas-tree, electrically operated means connected to the valve forautomatically shutting oi the valve, and means for timing the actuationof the rst named means to occur upon a dangerous rise'in water level. 1

l0. An oil and gas well protective device comprising the combinationwith the well Christmastree having a shut 01T valve, of means forhousing the Christmas-tree, electrically operated means connected to thevalve for automatically shutting oi the valve, and means for timing theactuation of the first named means to occur upon a dangerous rise inwind velocity.

5 ALFRED B. LONG.

LOUIS E. STAGG, Jn.

